E91 Straight Six Bearding
Discussion
JakeT said:
I didn't mind mine. The first was an early E39 530d with loads of miles on it. That one felt nice, but I had a 204bhp E46 with the six speed manual and it felt one dimensional. Only did well at motorway driving. On country roads near me (In fact you know stuff through Upper Bucklebury and The Avenue) it felt like a chore to drive. Auto diesel would have been fine though.
I certainly do know Upper Bucklebury and the Avenue! 
A lovely part of the country and nice roads around there too. I can't believe that it is over 10 years ago now that I moved away from there. I'd love to go back to around that neck of the woods for sure.
cerb4.5lee said:
I did like how relaxing the auto made my 330i to drive for sure. I think that I have a downer on the auto in the 330i because I had the auto in the 330d. Having both really elevated to me what a poor match it seemed to the high(ish) revving engine and low(ish) torque feeling engine that the N52 is(I do love the N52 don't get me wrong because it is silky smooth and free revving all the way to the top of the revs).
The first time I put my foot down in the auto 330i both me and my mrs laughed because the engine revved its arse off but it didn't actually make that much progress. Do the same in an auto 330d and it will just pick up and go effortlessly in comparison. Having both really highlighted that to me, hence why I'd always recommend the manual in the 330i now(most people always have anyway to be fair).
Not sure if this was an older car with tired fluid?The first time I put my foot down in the auto 330i both me and my mrs laughed because the engine revved its arse off but it didn't actually make that much progress. Do the same in an auto 330d and it will just pick up and go effortlessly in comparison. Having both really highlighted that to me, hence why I'd always recommend the manual in the 330i now(most people always have anyway to be fair).
My 550 was not really slow when I first got it but after the gearbox received fresh fluid the shifts were definitely a bit more purposeful and it made enough of a difference to the box to change my view of it from dislike to acceptance.
ATM said:
Not sure if this was an older car with tired fluid?
My 550 was not really slow when I first got it but after the gearbox received fresh fluid the shifts were definitely a bit more purposeful and it made enough of a difference to the box to change my view of it from dislike to acceptance.
Yes and that is a good point. The 330d was only 3 months old when I got it(had it 6 years), and the 330i was 7 years old when I got it(at 48k miles) and had it 4 years. The fluid could've been past its best in the 330i for sure. My 550 was not really slow when I first got it but after the gearbox received fresh fluid the shifts were definitely a bit more purposeful and it made enough of a difference to the box to change my view of it from dislike to acceptance.
bongotvr]r Tidy said:
What age was the car you tried?
The 330i was a 57 plate. There was a lot of movement in the steering wheel, more than just the tracking it felt like.
So as has already been said probably the N53 engine (which can have some issues) and EPAS.The 330i was a 57 plate. There was a lot of movement in the steering wheel, more than just the tracking it felt like.
The HPAS in early E9*s has much more feel than the EPAS I had on my 123d and E86 Z4 Coupes.
Mr Tidy said:
So as has already been said probably the N53 engine (which can have some issues) and EPAS.
The HPAS in early E9*s has much more feel than the EPAS I had on my 123d and E86 Z4 Coupes.
EPAS won't make the steering feel loose and sThe HPAS in early E9*s has much more feel than the EPAS I had on my 123d and E86 Z4 Coupes.
te though. I've driven plenty of cars with EPAS and the only thing I notice is a lack of feel and a little too much lightness. Never like I'm not even in control of the car.ATM said:
JakeT said:
EPAS won't make the steering feel loose and ste though. I've driven plenty of cars with EPAS and the only thing I notice is a lack of feel and a little too much lightness. Never like I'm not even in control of the car.
Run Flats?te though. I've driven plenty of cars with EPAS and the only thing I notice is a lack of feel and a little too much lightness. Never like I'm not even in control of the car.Swervin_Mervin said:
Worn RFTs and tracking being out can easily ruin the handling, and will have it pulling all over the road like crazy, but I'm still not sure it would feel "loose".
Sorry, yes I should have said it had run flats, and I suspect the tracking was definitely out due to school run speed bumps in London.bongotvr said:
Swervin_Mervin said:
Worn RFTs and tracking being out can easily ruin the handling, and will have it pulling all over the road like crazy, but I'm still not sure it would feel "loose".
Sorry, yes I should have said it had run flats, and I suspect the tracking was definitely out due to school run speed bumps in London.
I've said this before but we had RFTs on our F20 125i through choice the first time (F1 Asymm) - my wife wanted them specifically. After a while she started to really question whether there was something wrong with the setup though as it "felt awful". So I had the tracking done, and it did improve it a little. However, she grew to hate it and was convinced it was just the F20 that she didn't like (she loves driving my E91 and loved her previous E8x). I must admit I hated it as well as it was a wrestling match to keep it straight on the rural lanes near us.
In the end we compromised on chopping it in, and instead got 4 new non-RFT F1s Asymms to replace the only half-worn RFTs. So same tyre but non-RFT. Had the tracking checked at the same time but it was all as it should have been.
It was a completely different car. Tracked beautifully down the road, less noise and harshness, more supple ride, and was far more resolved when pushing on.
In the end we compromised on chopping it in, and instead got 4 new non-RFT F1s Asymms to replace the only half-worn RFTs. So same tyre but non-RFT. Had the tracking checked at the same time but it was all as it should have been.
It was a completely different car. Tracked beautifully down the road, less noise and harshness, more supple ride, and was far more resolved when pushing on.
Swervin_Mervin said:
I've said this before but we had RFTs on our F20 125i through choice the first time (F1 Asymm) - my wife wanted them specifically. After a while she started to really question whether there was something wrong with the setup though as it "felt awful". So I had the tracking done, and it did improve it a little. However, she grew to hate it and was convinced it was just the F20 that she didn't like (she loves driving my E91 and loved her previous E8x). I must admit I hated it as well as it was a wrestling match to keep it straight on the rural lanes near us.
In the end we compromised on chopping it in, and instead got 4 new non-RFT F1s Asymms to replace the only half-worn RFTs. So same tyre but non-RFT. Had the tracking checked at the same time but it was all as it should have been.
It was a completely different car. Tracked beautifully down the road, less noise and harshness, more supple ride, and was far more resolved when pushing on.
ExactlyIn the end we compromised on chopping it in, and instead got 4 new non-RFT F1s Asymms to replace the only half-worn RFTs. So same tyre but non-RFT. Had the tracking checked at the same time but it was all as it should have been.
It was a completely different car. Tracked beautifully down the road, less noise and harshness, more supple ride, and was far more resolved when pushing on.
They are just Rubbish. The only problem they solve is you dont get stranded if you get a puncture. But the compromise you have to make is that they are absolutely rubbish at everything else a tyre does. I'm happy to live with the constant stress and anxiety that if I get a puncture - guess what - I have to stop and I will be stranded. But life goes on.
I tend to find buying genuine parts from Europe better VFM than over here, even when postage is taken into consideration, try these:
https://www.leebmann24.de/
https://www.schmiedmann.com/
https://www.hubauer-shop.de/en/
Typically cheaper than Cotswolds as well
https://www.leebmann24.de/
https://www.schmiedmann.com/
https://www.hubauer-shop.de/en/
Typically cheaper than Cotswolds as well
So, after six months searching I bought an E91 a few weeks ago, it's an 08 M-Sport Manual 330i with an N53 engine, iDrive and Xenons, it's on about 70,000 miles, so basically everything I wanted. It seems to go well, I love the way it can hold on to one gear through a big speed range, 2nd and 3rd are fun gears. I thought I'd be a bit disappointed by the gearchange, from something I'd read, but I'm not, seems direct and positive with a reasonably short throw, so good times.
Then there's the N53 engine… I'd seen all the N52 vs N53 stuff and figured I would go with either, I wanted an E91, 330, petrol, manual and as we know, there are so few around I couldn't be that fussy. Besides, they both have good and bad points. It's got a FBMWSH and wasn't due again until Jan 21, but as it hadn't been done since Nov 18, I put it straight in to an Indy for an oil/filter change and inspection. It's basically ok, except the NOx system, it's got four NOx sensor fault codes plus NOx catalytic converter ageing, so not good - but as I've found out through extensive reading over the last week or so, to be expected.
The main points and questions about its current status:
So there it is, an interesting ownership journey beginning, I'm also about to install an "Integrated Automotive" unit for Android Auto/Carplay and maybe think about winter wheels/tyres (18in RFs and no spare atm). Any suggestions and advice about anything (but especially injectors and NOx) welcome, here's a pic…
Cheers
Martin
Then there's the N53 engine… I'd seen all the N52 vs N53 stuff and figured I would go with either, I wanted an E91, 330, petrol, manual and as we know, there are so few around I couldn't be that fussy. Besides, they both have good and bad points. It's got a FBMWSH and wasn't due again until Jan 21, but as it hadn't been done since Nov 18, I put it straight in to an Indy for an oil/filter change and inspection. It's basically ok, except the NOx system, it's got four NOx sensor fault codes plus NOx catalytic converter ageing, so not good - but as I've found out through extensive reading over the last week or so, to be expected.
The main points and questions about its current status:
- The service records show that the Injectors where changed under the recall in Dec 2011, but only 5 of them (seems weird), but at that date, are they likely to be Index 11? I think the first thing I need to know is are they all working properly and are they all Index 11, I'm hoping the Indy can tell me on Tuesday
- The first Indy I took it to (for the oil/filter change and reading the fault codes) suggested changing the NOx sensor, but from what I've read, that's pointless with the 30E9 Cat ageing error - but some info is conflicting, I've also read that the Cat error could be caused by the faulty sensor, it'll cost £500 to find out - is it worth it or should I go straight to the Bimmerprofs NOXEM?
- Going mad and getting everything swapped out (injectors, NOx Cat, HPFP, etc.) would cost close to the purchase price, so I'm looking for a more reasonable route - apparently if you ignore the NOx issue and leave it running in homogenous mode, you'll poison the CO cats, so that's not really an option either
So there it is, an interesting ownership journey beginning, I'm also about to install an "Integrated Automotive" unit for Android Auto/Carplay and maybe think about winter wheels/tyres (18in RFs and no spare atm). Any suggestions and advice about anything (but especially injectors and NOx) welcome, here's a pic…
Cheers
Martin
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